Individual members can benefit greatly by joining the Institution. Those wishing to further their careers and achieve higher academic standards may do by progressing through the range of examinations set by the Institution. The Institution publishes a full and comprehensive syllabus for all examinations and several further education establishments run study courses for each of the examinations. Similarly, where local study are not available, some of the commercial correspondence schools support the examinations and run study courses by mail.
CPD Register
Internationally, the Institution of Fire Engineers supports the concept and practice of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), believing it to be essential to effective performance as a professional, accredited fire engineer or industry operative.
IFE Australia believes that it has a duty to ensure the highest standards of performance in fire engineering. CPD creates an ethos in which competence and professional behaviour is expected from its members.
The Institution defines CPD as "The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout the practitioner's working life".
There are three fundamental reasons for carrying out CPD to:
· demonstrate that existing knowledge and skills are being regularly refreshed, in order to maintain existing competency,
· acquire new knowledge and develop more skills necessary in order to keep up with developments in fire engineering, and
· acquire new underpinning knowledge and skills that may be necessary for career development.
It has been universally recognised that the concept of continuing maintenance of knowledge, skills and personal qualities is an essential part of the upholding of educational and workplace qualifications, as such employers are now seeking to encourage employees to undertake CPD activities. Being a part of the system advantages those seeking employment or advancement.
IFE Australia has as such initiated a CPD register for Fire Brigade professionals across Australia to provide an independent register for the recording of members’ CPD activities. The CPD register is intended to provide an independent record to Fire service employers and will be made available, on specific written request from the registered member, for the purposes of supporting employment and advancement applications.
IFE will keep CPD policy under review, seeking to develop the highest standards of practice and to aid recognition of activity between institutions.
The Institution recommends that all members undertake CPD in accordance with the current advice and guidance. To this end IFE Australia have developed a CPD policy and system that will add value to the member’s qualifications by providing of independent evidence of skill maintenance, based on sound educational principles, appropriate to their professional needs.
The IFE Australia CPD system members can accrue CPD points for the following activities:
* Formal Study.
* Informal Study.
* Courses of Study at TAFE and University
* Seminars and conferences
* Participation in Industry or Standards committees
* TEWT exercises
* Preparation and publication of articles in industry magazines
* Other approved educational activities
IFE Australia believes that the validation of CPD activities, either by the IFE, another professional or academic body or by employers, is a useful process for both the organiser of the activity and the professional who attends. IFE will validate quality CPD activities organised by other agencies and education providers, and will allow that agency to use the IFE CPD logo for that activity at an appropriate license fee.
CPD units will only be accredited to registered members after the validation of the activity from the information provided on the submitted validation form.
Regular CPD activities are recommended for all members of the system; as such the system has set activity levels for those in the system.
